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Questions and Answers
What was the principal responsibility of a GOBERNADORCILLO during the Spanish era in the Philippines?
Which term refers to a situation in which Spanish friars held so much power that even civil authorities feared them?
What economic institution imposed by Spain involved the assignment of land and inhabitants to loyal Spaniards?
What did the CEDULA serve as during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines?
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What type of trade involved products being shipped from Manila to Acapulco, Mexico during the Spanish era?
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What did the 'POLO Y SERVICIO' require of Filipino males during the Spanish colonial period?
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What was the name given by the Spaniards to the Filipinos during colonization?
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Which plan was implemented to pacify the natives and convert them to Christianity?
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Which body governed the Philippines indirectly on behalf of the Spanish Crown?
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What was the name of the supreme court of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period?
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Which body was responsible for enacting laws in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period?
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What was the administrative division below the level of pueblos (towns) during the Spanish colonial period?
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Study Notes
Spanish Colonial Administration
- The principal responsibility of the Gobernadorcillo was tax collection.
- The smallest unit of government was the Barrio, headed by a Cabeza de Barangay, responsible for maintaining peace and order, and collecting taxes and tributes.
City Government
- The Ayuntamiento was the city government during the Spanish era, governed by a Cabildo (city council) composed of a City Mayor, Counselors, Chief Constable, and Secretary.
Supremacy of the Friars
- The Spanish friar was a key figure in the local administrative set-up, with significant power and influence.
- The term "Fraiocracia" was coined by Graciano Lopez Jaena to describe the situation where friars became so powerful that even civil authorities feared them.
Weakness of Spanish Colonial Administration
- The Spanish colonial administration was corrupt and inefficient.
- Lower positions were sold to the highest bidders, leading to widespread corruption.
Economic Institutions
- The Encomienda system was a parcel of land, including its inhabitants, assigned to loyal Spaniards who had helped in the colonization of the country.
- There were two types of Encomiendas: Royal Encomiendas, comprising cities, seaports, and regions rich in natural wealth, and Private Encomiendas, under the stewardship of private persons, charitable institutions, or the Catholic Church.
Taxation
- Filipinos started paying tribute in cash to Spain during the days of Legazpi, with the rate originally set at 8 reales, later raised to 10 reales in 1602, and then increased to 12 reales in 1851.
- One tribute was equivalent to one family consisting of a father, wife, and minor children, with unmarried men over 20 years and unmarried women over 25 years paying half of the tribute.
- The tribute was abolished in 1884.
Forced Labor
- The Polos y Servicio system required all Filipino males from 16 to 60 years old to render services for 40 days each year in the building and repair of roads, bridges, cutting of timber, and working in foundries and shipyards.
- Those who rendered forced labor were called Polistas.
- The Falla or Exemption Fee exempted individuals from forced labor if they paid it.
Galleon Trade
- The Galleon trade was an early trade between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico.
- Galleons shipped products from Manila to Acapulco, and on the return trip, carried silver coins or silver bullion that traders from Manila desired.
Unification Under Spanish Rule
- The Spanish crown gave the country its identity, and the country came to be known as the Philippines due to Spain's three centuries of colonial administration.
- The Reducción plan of Fr. Juan de Plasencia was implemented, requiring natives to live near the church, and those who refused to obey were labeled as bandits or tulisanes.
Administrative Organization
- The Consejo de las Indias (Council of Indies) governed the Philippines indirectly through the Spanish Crown.
- The Ministerio de Ultramar (Ministry of Colonies) governed the country directly in the 19th century through the King of Spain.
- The Governor-General was appointed as the head of the Spanish colonial government in the country.
- The Audiencia Real (Royal Audiencia) was the supreme court of the Philippines.
- The Actos Acordados were laws enacted by the Governor-General.
- The Spanish Cortes was the law-making body based in Madrid.
Local Government
- The Alcaldias (provinces) were divided into Pueblos (towns), each headed by a Gobernadorcillo or Town Mayor.
- The Alcaldias were headed by an Alkalde Mayor, who exercised executive and judicial functions.
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Description
Learn about the completion of Spain's colonization of the Philippines, the conversion of Filipinos into 'Little Brown Spaniards', the unification under Spanish rule, and the impact of Spain's colonial administration on the country's identity.
